The 3 - March 3, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the announcement of plans by major pharmacies to sell the abortion pill in selected states. Also, Alabama lawmakers attempted to respond to the Alabama Supreme Court's pro-life ruling on human embryos by providing what is hoped to be temporary legislation to enable IVF clinics to resume services.  And, the ministry of Youth With a Mission faces significant challenges after a bus accident in Tanzania claimed the lives of 11 people associated with the ministry.

Pharmacies announce plans to sell abortion pill in some states

With a March 26 date for arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court over the expanded availability of the abortion pill, mifepristone, two pharmacy chains have announced their plans to sell it. 

LifeNews.com reported:

CVS and Walgreens announced that they will begin selling the abortion pill nationwide, even though it has killed millions of babies and injured countless thousands of women.

The two pharmacy chains recently received certification to dispense the drugs in a small group of states, a process they initiated after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new regulations last year allowing brick and mortar retailers to offer chemical abortion.

Leading pro-life groups condemned the decision, saying that the pills end the lives of babies before birth and that chemical abortion poses greater risks for women than surgical procedures – even as high as four times the risk.

Chelsey Youman, National Director of Public Policy for Human Coalition is quoted in the article; she stated: “This is a massive scheme of abortion-on-demand where our neighborhood pharmacies have been turned into merchants of death. The FDA has lost all credibility in abandoning its responsibility to protect life, and women and children are paying the cost with their lives..." She added, “Over the years, the FDA has recklessly tossed aside common sense safety regulations to the point where women can now get abortion pills at their neighborhood pharmacy – or through the mail – having not ever seen a doctor throughout the process. They may not have received critical screenings for complications that could save their lives..."

The Life News article pointed out:

On March 26 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Danco v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, petitions in the landmark case in which a group of doctors are challenging the FDA’s reckless rubber-stamping of mail-order abortion pills. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously found that the FDA’s actions likely violated the law.

Alabama lawmakers vote to extend protection for IVF clinics

The declaration by the Alabama Supreme Court that embryos produced through in vitro fertilization are, in fact, human, set off a firestorm of activity, driven largely by misinformation, regarding the fertility industry in the state of Alabama.  By week's end, both chambers of the Alabama Legislature had passed bills offering legal protection for IVF clinics, in light of the high court's ruling that a lawsuit involving the destruction of embryos in a clinic in Mobile could move forward. 

Pro-life groups were adamant that lawmakers, who are tasked with crafting legislation speaking to the issue, can protect IVF and do so in a pro-life manner.  Writing on behalf of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, President Eric Johnston stated: "Our objective is not to compromise IVF in any material way, but to facilitate and continue its availability."

He noted, "...we agree with the Court opinion. Therefore, the humanity of those unborn children must be protected, while permitting couples to have the option. We believe the unused embryos should be permitted to be adopted. In all events, those not used, must not be destroyed. We must agree on a humane way to resolve this problem."

An earlier version of the legislation passed by the Senate and House had included language that said the embryos were actually not considered to be human life. That language was abandoned. As Johnston related, another version included a deadline by which the bill would expire - that was removed; in response, he wrote: "This raises our concern that the Legislature will not adequately or timely deal with the problem. IVF is not regulated in Alabama. The Court opinion is a wake-up call."  Also, language granting "blanket immunity" to IVF clinics was revised.   

And, pro-life individuals and groups should have seats at the table.  Johnston wrote:

The Alabama Legislature must ignore the demands of special interests and work with all groups to do what is needed to permit IVF, while protecting the unborn. The Alabama Pro Life Coalition must be a part of that process and the Alabama Legislature must act with dispatch, but with care.

The conversation can be found here. 

Bus accident claims lives of almost a dozen people working with YWAM 

The missions organization, Youth with a Mission, has suffered a significant loss and needs our prayers.  An article published this past Thursday on the Mission Network News website about a deadly bus accident in Tanzania states:

On Saturday, February 24, participants in a YWAM leadership course took a field trip in two buses to Maasai land, where they observed a thriving community development program. On the return trip, a truck that reportedly lost its brakes smashed into YWAM’s second bus, crushing it from top to bottom.

The accident involved four vehicles in total and at least 15 fatalities. One of the vehicles involved was carrying students and teachers from New Vision School of Arusha and a public bus.

Eleven Gospel workers were killed, including the local YWAM base leader and training director. Eight believers were severely wounded, and two remain in critical condition today.

The article notes that: 

Those who died were leaders of projects, training centers, and ministries. It is a significant hit for YWAM’s work, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Pray the work that has been happening through those who passed away will not be stopped but be carried on by others. Pray that much fruit will come from these tragic deaths and that Jesus will get all the glory.

The costly procedures to "arrange care for the injured, support families, and get the bodies back to eight different countries for burial..." are underway.